ARQ’s new salute to disco
Oxford St stalwarts Wil Sabin (pictured) and Decoda Secret have launched a new Sunday night show at ARQ, Dirty Disco. Each week they are joined on stage by up-and-coming gender illusionist Little X and dancer Andrew.
Sabin told the Star Observer his new creation was a salute to the vintage years of disco, with a modern twist.
“We wanted to make [disco] a bit more current and hot. Instead of using Disco Inferno we have the instrumental of it with Madonna’s Music over the top. We use Lady Gaga’s Born This Way, but over the top of Knock On Wood. It’s a mix of old and new,” he explained.
“The choreography is really ’70s-driven. The car wash [section] is really cool, we have buckets and rags. I also have a lot of fun in the Disco Inferno number Andrew and I do — we have some bitchin’ afro wigs on.”
While the show has only debuted in the past few weeks, Sabin said audience reactions were already very positive.
“It’s getting busier and busier every week. This show is even better than Amazonia, which ran for nine months. I think Sunday at ARQ has gone from strength to strength and has become quite iconic.”
While Sabin said he gets his inspiration for productions from “everything from Singing In The Rain to Showgirls”, Dirty Disco takes a cue from the fashions and films of the vintage days of disco.
“We got inspiration from The Wiz, the black version of The Wizard of Oz. When they’re all in Oz in gold sequin outfits head to toe — it all came from that.”
info: Dirty Disco, Sundays at ARQ. Doors 9pm, $5 entry.
Photo: John Mcrae
